Sandhya case: Police add abduction, murder charges

The city crime branch probing the death of Sandhya Singh, sister of Bollywood composers Jatin-Lalit, has added charges of abduction, robbery and murder in the case.

"Abduction, murder and robbery charges, which were not in the FIR, have now been added as she was murdered and robbed by unidentified persons," a crime branch official said.

A team of crime branch would also visit the spot in Navi Mumbai where her skeletal remains were found. The places where she was seen on the fateful day would also be visited to understand the sequence of events that led to her murder, the officer added.

"A forensic experts' team would also accompany the police team," the officer added.

The case was recently transferred to Mumbai crime branch from Navi Mumbai Police. So far, no arrests have been made.

Sandhya (50), wife of a senior Customs officer, went missing on December 13 last year when she had gone to a bank in Nerul of Navi Mumbai, carrying jewellery worth around Rs 20 lakh with her, police said.

She was dropped near the bank by her friend Uma Gaur, who was in a car, and since then she has been missing, they said.

A fortnight ago, her skull and bones were found at a patch of marshy land near an elite school in Nerul area. The human remains were spotted by Michael Oates, a geologist, near the missing woman's residence, police said, adding the forensic reports confirmed that the skeletal remains were that of Sandhya.

Sandhya's two brothers are noted Bollywood music composers Jatin-Lalit. She stayed with her family at NRI Colony in Seawoods, Nerul.